MSc Bioinformatics

Course structure

 

Modules

• Gene and genome analysis
• Proteins
• Bioinformatics Programming and Advanced Topics in Bioinformatics
• Steered Research Project
• Algorithms for Bioinformatics
• Big Data and Predictive Analytics

Plus your Independent Research Project

 

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

 

Project
Building on the skills you have acquired in the taught modules and the steered research project, you will undertake a three month individual research project typically in research groups at the University of Leicester, though some will have external collaborations.

 

Examples of recent projects:

• Comparative genomics of blood flukes
• Identifying the transcriptional start sites of L1 retrotransposons
• Natural variation in miRNA target sequences
• Unravelling the significance of bidirectional promoters and the function of 'unknown' genes in genomes
• Constructing whole genome recombination maps from Next Generation Sequencing Data
• Trawling for satellites and transposons in living fossil genomes

Published project work by MSc Bioinformatics students

• Saunders GI, Wasmuth JD, Beech R, Lainga R, Hunt M, Naghra H, Cotton JA, Berriman M, Britton C, Gilleard JS. (2013) 'Characterization and comparative analysis of the complete Haemonchus contortus β-tubulin gene family and implications for benzimidazole resistance in strongylid nematodes'. Int. J. Parasitol. vol.43 no.6 pp.465-475 doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2012.12.011
• Ray J, Dondrup M, Modha S, Steen IH, Sandaa R-A, et al. (2012) 'Finding a needle in the virus metagenome haystack – Micro-metagenome analysis captures a snapshot of the diversity of a bacteriophage armoire'. PLoS ONE 7(4): e34238. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0034238
• Malone J, Badarinarayan N, Ison J, Stevens R, Parkinson H. (2010) 'An ontology of bioinformatics software' Bio-Ontologies 2010, a Special Interest Group meeting at ISMB 2010. Boston, MA.

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

2:2 degree (or equivalent) in Biological Sciences or related discipline. We will also consider appropriate experience in industry.

 

English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.

 

International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.

UK Students

This is the total course fee.

Starting in September 2022

• £9,500

If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.

 

International Students

This is the total course fee.

Starting in September 2022

• £21,000

 

You will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.

 

From 2022 onwards, EU nationals will pay the International fee. If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).

Bioinformatics is a major growth area and qualified bioinformaticians are in high demand. A huge amount of biological data has resulted from genome projects, next generation sequencing and other 'omics' techniques. Our MSc in Bioinformatics course provides the skill set to exploit and make sense of such data. These skills are highly valued by PhD programmes and employers.

 

International students who study at the University of Leicester may be eligible for a Graduate Visa which grants permission to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successful completion of their course.